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Countdown to West Virginia Statehood

by:
Bob O'Connor (Author)

ISBN: 0-7414-8312-2 ©2013
Price: $10.95
Book Size: 5.5'' x 8.5'' , 101 pages
Category/Subject: HISTORY / General

On June 20, 1863, West Virginia became the 35th state. Most people think the statehood movement was a result of the majority of those who lived in western Virginia were pro-Union and came out of the decision of Virginia to secede from the Union. Not so at all. The fissure between the “planters” and “mountaineers”, those who lived in eastern Virginia and those who lived in western Virginia started in 1776 with the first state constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. That constitution restricted voting rights to persons who were large landowners who mainly lived in eastern Virginia. That restriction stayed on the books until 1850. Countdown to West Virginia statehood starts in the beginning and chronicles an amazing and interesting journey.

Abstract:
On June 20, 1863, West Virginia became the 35th state. Most people think the statehood movement was a result of the majority of those who lived in western Virginia were pro-Union and came out of the decision of Virginia to secede from the Union. Not so at all.

The fissure between the “planters” and “mountaineers”, those who lived in eastern Virginia and those who lived in western Virginia started in 1776 with the first state constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. That constitution restricted voting rights to persons who were large landowners who mainly lived in eastern Virginia. That restriction stayed on the books until 1850.


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Customer Reviews

  An Interesting Path to Statehood , 03/07/2013
Reviewer: Joanne White
Review for Countdown to West Virginia Statehood Each of our 50 states has had its own unique path to statehood. West Virginia became a state through a process like no other state. It was carved out of an existing state in 1863, and will be celebrating its 150th birthday during this current year. Author Bob O’Connor has taken this story, documented the highly charged controversy of each step, and presented it both for the novice historian as well as for serious students of this statehood process. He explains in great detail, with photographs and maps, how each person and event led up to the decision of the western territory of Virginia to become its own separate state. This latest book by O’Connor is the nonfiction work Countdown to West Virginia Statehood. O’Connor presents the events as they happened, but he also lets the reader know how controversial they were 150 years ago, and how some historians still believe today that West Virginia became a state illegally. The information is both interesting and thought provoking as the differences between the “planter” and the “mountaineers” are presented. The content of this book is taken from a series of articles that O’Connor has written for weekly publication in the months preceding the 150th anniversary celebration. Any reader who wants to know “the rest of the story” will appreciate and enjoy this concise history of the events that are now known as the “countdown to statehood”. By Joanne White, Ferryville, Wisconsin

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